By MAUREEN DOHERTY
Lynnfield — The Pioneers continue to play one of their best field hockey seasons as they remained undefeated this past week, defeating both Newburyport and Georgetown.
With an overall record of 12-0-2 and a league record of 11-0-2, the Blue and Gold have the best record of any team in either the large or small division of the Cape Ann League.
Capsize Clippers
Lynnfield took on a formidable opponent last Tuesday, traveling to Newburyport to face the Clippers, a team which continues to hold on to second place in the CAL Large.
The Pioneers subsequently capsized the Clippers 3-2 while giving their opponents their only league loss of the season.
It was an exciting game, said head Coach Mamie Reardon, with the Pioneers leading 3-1 until the Clippers narrowed the gap to 3-2 with just 1:24 left on the clock.
Senior captain Bailey Fanikos scored two goals while sophomore Mim Oliveri scored once.
Fanikos got Lynnfield on the board with an assist going to Sarah Palmer. Oliveri scored 23:02 into the first half. At the end of one it was 2-1.
In the second half, Fanikos scored with 7:14 remaining in the game to give the team a 3-1 lead that lasted until the 1:24.
That was the longest point of the game as time wound down to the final buzzer and they hung onto the win. Goalie Shannon Furey made six saves.
Reardon was pleased with way her team played against a skilled opponent to post their 10th league win.
Royal treatment
The Pioneers had their highest scoring game of the season on Columbus Day when they traveled to Georgetown and defeated the Royals 6-1.
“We’re pretty happy,” Reardon said after the win.
Kathleen Hamm got the scoring started when she connected on a hard drive from Fanikos and sent the ball into the corner of the net with 23:58 remaining in the first half.
Stefania DeAngelis earned another assist when she inserted the ball on a corner and Fanikos subsequently scored at 14:48. DeAngelis currently leads the CAL with 10 assists.
Fanikos then scored two unassisted goals at 13:52 and 9:33. She continues to lead the league with 23 goals and 29 points.
Oliveri scored the fifth goal with 2:35 left in the first half as the Pioneers went into the break up 5-0.
Georgetown scored five minutes into the second half and Oliveri rounded out the scoring with the team’s final tally at 22:30.
Many players earned valuable varsity playing time in the second half, which Reardon said is helpful at this point of the season in determining the depth of her bench. Among the players contributing to the victory were Lilli Patterson who continues to command the sweep position, and Rachel Strout, Katya Welch and Olivia DeLuca at midfield.
